526 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



penetrate deeply and combine partly with the constituents 

 of the wood to form insoluble compounds. The clay serves 

 as an external protection, and its occasional renewal is de- 

 sirable. 8 C\May, 18*72, 1 73. 



CEMENT FOR MASONRY. 



Professor Artus states that the following composition fur- 

 nishes a very serviceable cement for masonry in aqueducts 

 and for other purposes. Two parts of fresh slacked lime are 

 made into a paste with two parts of sand and one part of 

 finely pulverized brick-dust. The mixture should be thor- 

 ough and homogeneous. 6 (7, 1872, 176. 



MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR COLOR. 



The consumption of the so-called sugar color is constantly 

 increasing, and it is estimated that Berlin, in Prussia, alone 

 supplies the trade with over 5000 tons a year. It is used to 

 give color to spirituous liquors, to beer, wine, vinegar, and 

 even to coffee, while it imparts neither taste nor flavor, and 

 is chemically a neutral body. In its preparation sugar is 

 first dissolved in a very little water, and then heated, during 

 continued stirring, almost to burning, giving rise to disa- 

 greeable vapors, which affect the eyes and the lungs. At this 

 stage of the process about two per cent, of carbonate of am- 

 monia are added, and the heating continued a little longer 

 without any cessation of the stirring. Sugar from potato 

 starch is just as good as any other for the purpose, besides 

 being much cheaper. The burnt sugar, or caramel, must dis- 

 solve easily, and its solution must remain limpid and without 

 any sediment. 6 (7, xxn., 1872, 215. 



NEW SIZE FOR FABRICS. 



Mr.Depouilly proposes an alkaline solution of gum lac as a 

 substitute for the several materials (flour, starch, dextrine, 

 gelatine, etc.) now in use for sizing and finishing woven 

 fabrics. The alkali is carbonized by the action of the air, 

 and separates from the gum, which remains insoluble in the 

 fibre. This size is said to be especially adapted to light fab- 

 rics, such as laces, thin muslin, etc., and may be applied either 

 before or after the dyeing, or even in combination with the 

 dye-stuff. For light colors bleached gum is to be used, to 



